How do you make an initial value work on a hidden field?

I'd really like to know if there's a way to embed a default selection on a hidden dropdown.

Please take a look at this example...
http://creator.zoho.com/gaykc81/test/

I've set the hidden dropdown named "Status" to the initial value of "New Problem". Yet as you can it always shows up blank in the data view.

The reason I need this field to autoselect is because I want to apply filters to it. For example I'll have a view just for new problems and another for solved ones.

Thanks.